John amidon norton



(No Model.)

J., A. NORTON. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Patented June 17, 1890.

lI|l|IlIllllliIlIlI-Illlllllllll|lI/ UNITED TATES VATENT OFFICE.

JOHN AMIDON NORTON, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, 'ASSIGNOR TO JOHN M. ORFORD, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming-*part of Letters Patent No. 430,252, dated June 17, 1890.

Application filed March 17, 1890. Serial No. 344,117. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN AMIDON NORTON, a citizen of the- United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county ot Fairiield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electric switches, but more particularly to the type known as the single-pole switch, and the objects of my invention are to provide a device of this description in which the change of contact shall be made by a quick spring-actuated movement of the circuit-closer; in ywhich this springactuated movement may be effected by turning the operating-handle in either direction, in which close contact is insured by a' constant spring-pressure, and in which the parts are few and simple, so that the completed device is neither expensive nor complicated. With these ends in view my invention consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then recited in the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may fully understand the construction and operation of my improved switch, I will describe the same in detail, reference being had to the accompany- 'ing drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a plan view ot the switch, the spindle being sectioned at the line c oc ot' Fig. 6, switch closed; Fig. 2, a similar view with the larger terminal removed; Fig. 3, a vertical section through the complete switch, on line 'y y of Fig. l; Fig. 4, a detail bottom plan of the terminal plate, the contacting element, and the friction-block; Fig. 5, a plan view of the base and the spring arranged therein, all other parts removed; Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a slightly modified connection between the locking-hub and spindle.

Like numerals denote the same parts in all the iigures.

porcelain.

base is secured a plate 2 of suitable conduct` ing material, whose end projects inward and which forms one of the terminals. A binding-screw 3 serves to connect the circuit-wire to the plate. The other terminal consists of a semicircular plate 4, also supported and firmly secured upon the rim of the base. It has a binding-screw 5 for attachmentpof the circuit-wire. 'At a point over the center of the base the plate 4 has a circular opening, and 6 is a hub, which is shouldered, as seen at Figs. 3 and (i, and across whose lower face are cut two shallow L J -shaped channels or grooves 6, which intersect at right angles, as seen at Fig. 4. l

The contacting element or circuit-closer 7, which has two oppositely-extended arms, is centrally pierced and surrounds and is secured to the smaller diameter ot` the hub, as seen atthe sectional figures. This contacting element is designed to move with the hub and may be made integral therewith if convenience of manufacture shall so dictate. The upper face of the hub is substantially iiush with the top surface of the plate 4. l

8 is a screw, preferably, as seen at,Fig'.-.3,`

(shown at Figs. 2, 3, and 6,) whose purpose will presently be explained.

i3 is a spring coiled loosely about the spindle. Its upper end passes into the operatinghandle, and its lower end extends into the hub.

14 is a spring of generally helical form,

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having a central transverse straight section upon which are journaled two small rollers 15. These rollers rest in either of the grooves, and in addition to their locking function, hereinafter to be explained, they are caused by the spring to -exert a constant and considerable pressure, which insures close contact between the circuit-closer and the terminals.

While the form of spring herein shown is preferred, it is obvious that other forms of spring may be substituted without varying the operation of the switch. The parts of the switch are inclosed by a cap 16.

For purposes of convenience,-I prefer to make the operating-handle with an outwardlyextending flange at the bottom of a diameter slightly greater than that of the hand -hold. The central hole in the cap is closely adapted to this iange, and the cap is therefore removable at pleasure without detaching the handle. Any suitable detaining devices, as the screws 17, (shown at Figs. 3 and 6,) and corresponding depressions in the cap, serve to hold the latter to the base.

In assembling the switch, whose parts are I enumerated above, the screw-connection between the spindle and the hub should not be tightened -so but that the spindle may be turned freely about one-half a turn in either direction.

Vhen the switch is closed, as at Fig. 3, the spring 14 not only insures contact, but according to its strength it will, by the engagement of the rollers with the grooves in the hub,

groove, then the power stored in the ten sion ed 1 spiral spring acts upon the hub, and the latter and the circuit-closer fly around until arrested bythe rollers on the locking-spring entering and engaging the alternate groove.

In case the spiral spring should not be sufficiently strong to overcome the resistance opposed to it by the helical spring, the trippingblock-is provided, which, after the spindle has been rotated the proper distance for the winding or tensioning of the spiral spring,

abuts against the lower end of the latter where it enters the hub, so that the force of any further turning of the handle is exerted directly upon the hub and aids the exertion of the spiral spring to disengage the rollers from the hub. When so released, the hub is free to be rotated bythe spring. I prefer to use a spiral spring 'of sufcient strength, so .that the positive contact between the handle and hub is not required; but any strength' of spring suficient to impart a rapid movement to the hub and a circuit-closer through a quarter-revolution is within the scope of my invention.

As the spiral tension imparted to the spring 13 is but about a quarter of a turn, it will be readily understoodA that the spring may be tensioned in either direction, and therefore no matter in which direction the handle is turned the action of the spring will be the same and the condition of the switch will be reversed. rlhis is advantageous, since in most of the switches having a spring-impelled. circuit-closer the operation of the handle must either be always in one and the same direction, or is designed to be turned in one direction for opening and in the other for closing.

In this my invention I do not wish to be confined to the details of construction herein shown and described, since many minor changes referable only to mechanical skill may be made in my device without departing from the spirit and aim of myinvention, which contemplates the use, in an electric switch, of an operating-spring, a detainingspring, a circuitcloser engaged by said springs, and means for imparting to said operating-spring a preponderance of power, whereby the energy of the detaining-spring is overcome and the circuit-closer moved.

I claim- 1. In an electric switch, the combination, with the terminals and a suitable circuitcloser, of an operating-spring connected to said circuit-closer, a detaining-spring engaging said circuit-closer with a yielding pressure, and means for imparting to the operating-spring a power in excess of the resistance of the detaining-spring, whereby movement is induced in the circuit-closer.

3. In an electric switch, the combination, with the terminals and a rotative circuitcloser, of an operating-spring and a detaining-spring engaging said circuit-closer with a yielding pressure, the former normally unable to move the circuit-closer against the resistance of the latter, and means, as described, for vimparting to said operating-spring a power in excess of the resistance of the detaining-spring, substantially as specified.

3. In an electric switch, the combination, with the base, the terminals, and the rotative circuit-closer, of an operating-spring normally passive and secured to said circuit-closer, a detaining-spring engaging said circuit-closer with a yielding pressure and adapted to hold`- the latter as against rotation, and a handle secured to said operating-spring, whereby the latter may be strained to exert a power in excess of the holding energy of the detaini ing-spring, substantially asspecified. n

fl. In an electric switch, theucombination, with the terminals, and the circuit-closer,` having detaining-grooves and adapted to rotate in a horizontal plane, of means for actuating said circuit-closer, and a helical spring arranged beneath and adapted to exert an up- IIO ward pressure upon said circuit-closer, substantially as specied.

5. In an electric switch, the combination, with the base, the terminals, and the rotative circuit-closer, of means, as described, for imparting to said circuit-closer its rotative movement, and the helical spring, having rollers, as described, engaging said circuitcloser from beneath, substantially as set forth.

6. In an electric switch, the combination, with the base, the terminals, and the rotative circuit-closer, of the groei/ed block secured to and adapted to travel with said circuit-closer, the spring engaging the grooves in said block, the spindle, the handle, and the spirally-Wound operating-springall arend secured to the hub and the other to the handle, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presencebf two Witnesses.

JOHN AMIDON NORTON.

WVitnesses: v

S. H. HUBBARD,

M. L. HINCHCLIFFE. 

